Victor EzejaAll electricity distribution companies (DisCos) have been instructed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to publish details of refunds made to consumers who bought meters through the Meter Asset Providers (MAP) programme.
“This will demonstrate commitment and consistency to the scheme and encourage customers,” NERC stated in a post on its X handle on Monday, 24 February 2025.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe NERC gave the directive after its first Nigerian electricity supply industry (NESI) stakeholders meeting in 2025.
According to the Commission’s post on X, the meeting which held at its Headquarters, was to discuss the state of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). It said topics discussed included “the Tariff Methodology and impact of the state transition, NESI liquidity, financial evaluation of the market and the transition to a multi-tier electricity market with regards to the SERCs (State Electricity Regulatory Commissions) among others.”
According to the MAP framework, third-party investors can provide and maintain end-use meters as a service, and customers who use these meters pay metering service fees.
The MAP regulation was introduced in 2018 by enlisting third-party investors in an attempt to expedite the rollout of meters to end estimated billing.
In 2019, the NERC granted permits to asset providers to start rolling out new prepaid meters by May 1 and by December 31 of that year, it had approved 26 contractors under the scheme.
Prime Business Africa recalls that DisCos were mandated by the NERC in 2023 to refund customers who had paid for the purchase of meters within the MAP framework.
READ ALSO: Relief For Consumers As NERC Orders DisCos To Replace Obsolete Meters Free
The order which was contained in a document dated 20th March 2023, took effect on 1st April 2023.
According to the document, Section 8 (f) of the Regulations provides thus “that distribution licensees are obligated to reimburse customers who pay for meters under the MAP framework through equal installments of energy credits, at the time of vending, with the cost of the meter amortised over a maximum period of 36 months.”
Also, Section 24 (1) (b) of the regulations stipulated that “where a customer elects to make upfront payments for meters under these regulations, the cost of the meter shall be refunded through energy credits by the distribution licensee.”
According to the electricity regulator, prepaid meters purchased by customers under MAP will be refunded through energy credits calculated using the prevailing rate at the time of sale and amortised over 120 equal installments.
READ ALSO: NERC: How DisCos Will Access N21bn Electricity Metering Fund
However, there are concerns that DisCos have not been consistent in refunding customers.
This, Prime Business Africa gathered, prompted NERC to issue a directive to DisCos to publish the details of the refund to boost transparency and to encourage customers to take part in the scheme.
It would also be recalled that the NERC had in October 2024, clarified that it was the responsibility of DisCos to replace customers’ meters free of charge if such devices are found to be obsolete or faulty, provided it is not the fault of customers.
The directive came at a time when some DisCos were compelling electricity customers to pay for the replacement of their obsolete prepaid metres or be placed on estimated billing.
NERC together with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) opposed the move by the DisCos and urged Nigerians to report DisCos requesting payment for prepaid meters.
Reacting to NERC’s fresh directive, Nigerians online lamented about not getting refunds from DisCos years after they obtained their meters despite the order.
An X user, Oluwadare Anifowose with handle @Dareng2, said: “Yet to get refund via energy credit for MAP scheme meters procured since 2019 despite multiple Service Requests to both @IkejaElectric & @NERCNG. Hopefully, this new directive will expedite the refund process.”
Another X user, Eric Scent with handle @Ericscent said: “Discos are fraudulent in their refund. What they record or publish is different from what the customer is receiving. What of those who are indebted before the purchase of PPM? They wouldn’t fail to remove their outstanding from every token purchased but fail to refund.”
“It is good you have woken up. The DisCos, especially @aedcelectricity has not refunded one Kobo to anybody. The entire project is fraud. Nobody should be paying for meters. The DisCos brought nothing to the table, no finance, no capacity,” another X user, Odu Obodumu wrote.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
